chapter 36

"Wake up Sparrow!"

Jack was slapped across the face. He slowly opened his eyes, a pounding in the back of his skull. As he stirred, he began to notice his position. He was on a beach, on his knees, with his hands tied behind his back, surrounded by the biggest men he had ever seen. Standing directly in front of him was none other than Jonathan Torrents.

"Torrents. Not as impressive as the original." Jack said. Jonathan frowned, thunder rumbling overhead.

Jewel approached the sloped end of the tunnel, climbing up the rocky slope to the entrance. She ducked down when she looked over the sandy ledge and saw a group of men, her father and Jonathan amongst them.

"Captain Jack Sparrow. Have you truly earned that title?" Jonathan asked

"You have no idea." Jack replied

"But I do." Jonathan knelt down to be eye to eye with the pirate, one hand clutchinthis necklace. "Some time after I stole this trinket, I discovered not only can I control weather, but I can peer across the waves and into the hulls and onto the decks of the ships that sail. I've many of the things you've done." he glanced back at his men, "But I am disappointed you're daughter couldn't join us."

"I spotted your men before they spot me. I let her wander ahead while I let myself be taken. But if you so much as touch her, I swear-" Jack said

"You are in no position to make bargains, Sparrow." Jonathan said. He pushed himself to his feet and stared down at Jack. "However, I will make a deal with you. Should you survive the fire waves challenge, I will let you go free." Jack pursed his lips in thought, believing that Jewel was still in the tunnels and on her way to the shrine.

"I see... New deal." Jack said, making Jonathan raise an eyebrow. "I succeed, you take me to the shrine." Although Jonathan was concerned with what Jack was possibly plotting, the power that the necklace gave him made him blind to suspicious things like that.

"What is happening down there?" Jewel whispered, unable to hear much of anything below her.

"Very well." Jonathan said. Jack was pulled up to stand on his feet. His hands were unbound and he was shoved forward toward a boat. Jack looked up at the sky. It was cloudy, but it didn't look like serious storm weather.

"You sure you want to do this now?" he asked

"Have you forgotten what I can do, Sparrow?" Jonathan asked. Jack glanced down at his feet before looking upswitch a smile.

"Right." he said, clapping his hands together, "My apologies." He climbed into the boat and rowed out. Jewel stood up in surprise at what her father was doing.

"Oh no, he isn't. Dear God no." she said. She took in a breath and closed her eyes. "Don't panic. He has a plan of some kind. He doesn't need my help. He's a full grown man. I need to trust him. Trust him to be fine on his own." She crouched down, kneeling on the rocks. "Please be safe."

Feeling he had rowed out from the beach far enough, Jack pulled the oars back into the boat and looked back at the figures on the beach.

"Let's see if he can survive this." Jonathan said. The stone in his necklace shined. He closed his eyes and raised his hands up. The wind began to pick up. More clouds gathered overhead, blotting out any light. Rain poured hard like thick daggers on bare skin. The waves began the crash against the boat. Jack was struggling just sitting up.

"Bugger." he said, grabbing the oars. Rowing wasn't working though. A large wave crashed on him. He toppled out of his boat, oars still clutched in his hands. He surfaced and swam toward his boat. Another wave came, making the boat land upside down on Jack. Jonathan chuckled.

"Come on dad." Jewel whispered. The boat spun around and scooped Jack into it. He shook his head then smirked.

"That was helpful." Jack said. He stood up briefly and leaned to the right. The boat moved in that direction. An idea came to him. He put down one oar, but held the other. While still standing he rowed with the one oar, rowing from one side to the next. He glanced behind him and spotted another big wave coming.

He rowed faster and faster, trying to get ahead of the wave. When it fell, he continued rowing. The wave splashed onto him, but also pushed the boat forward. And with his rowing, he was able to steer himself toward the beach. He surfed the waves in his boat before finally making it to the shore.

"Yes!" Jewel said, throwing her fists in the air and jumping up and down in a circle. Jack held his arms out when he approached Jonathan.

"Jack Sparrow. Captain of storms." he said

"You could have killed me." Jack said

"That wouldn't be fair. I am a man of honor. Every challenge is the same." Jonathan said

"And as a man of honor, then let us be off... TO ST. ELMO'S SHRINE!" he yelled. Jewel stopped jumping when she realized what her father just said.

"The shrine!" she whispered, sliding down the rocks to the lantern and map. "Shrine, shrine, shrine, shortest path." She smirked with her goal in sight, "Right then." She ran through the tunnels, map and lantern in her hands, hoping she could arrive at the shrine before the men.